CONTENTS truth THE MARTYRS AND #METOO 10 What we can learn from their bold example. LYNN H. COHICK SCRIPTURE SAYS MORE THAN JUST ‘FORGIVE’ 16 God’s Word to victims of sexual violence. JEN POLLOCK MICHEL WEARY IN THE WILDERNESS? 22 Pray—and don’t give up on people. NATASHA SISTRUNK ROBINSON goodness JUST KIDS 28 It takes more than good intentions to raise kids who love like Jesus. D. L. MAYFIELD CHRISTIANITY TODAY SPECIAL ISSUE Heard WHY THE BIBLE BELT IS THE PERFECT 34 Copyright © 2018 PLACE FOR MUSLIM REFUGEES Christianity Today Samira Page sees the church mobilizing to serve Dallas’s All rights reserved. influx of new neighbors. KATE SHELLNUTT Published by Christianity Today 465 Gundersen Drive Carol Stream, IL 60188 SHE SHAPED ME 38 Faith leaders reflect on the women from Christian history Printed in the U.S.A. who have influenced their lives. KELLI B. TRUJILLO Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® beauty Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ‘I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!’ 48 Mary Magdalene and the Samaritan woman couldn’t help EDITOR IN CHIEF: Mark Galli but share their good news. PUBLISHER: Jacob Walsh MARLENA GRAVES EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Ted Olsen CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Alecia Sharp STEPPING BACK BEFORE SPEAKING OUT PROJECTS EDITOR: Kelli B. Trujillo 52 In solitude, we turn our face toward the God who so loves this world. ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Gordon ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jenna DeWitt JAN JOHNSON MARKETING: Leanne Snavely, Katie Bracy FIND YOUR CREATIVE VOICE 58 PRODUCTION: Cindy Cronk Creativity becomes more than expressing ourselves as we reflect God into the world. For more, visit APRIL YAMASAKI CHRISTIANITYTODAY.COM/WOMEN TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE 60 A benediction. FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL 3 FOB P3.indd 3 7/24/18 8:36 AM What we can learn from their bold example. LYNN H. COHICK The Martyrs and #MeToo I am a Christian,” declares Blandina, slave woman and martyr, to the Roman authorities. “I am a Chris- tian,” asserts Perpetua to her pagan father, sealing her fate as a martyr. “I am a servant of the living God,” proclaims Thecla to the governor as he marvels at her testimony in the arena before she was to be eaten by wild beasts. 11 Cohick P10.indd 11 7/24/18 8:32 AM The voices of these female mar- broken. But the blessed woman, like a noble tyrs ring down through the cen- athlete, renewed her strength in her confession . turies and sound notes of wisdom exclaiming, “I am a Christian.” and encouragement to us today. In our current #MeToo moment, Her steadfast faith impressed the crowd who claimed we hear the voices of persecuted never to have seen a woman bear such cruelties. women defining themselves not From North Africa, Perpetua was a 22-year-old as victims but as agents. We find mother of an infant son. She was arrested in 203 striking similarities to the ancient because she refused to sacrifice in honor of the emperor female martyrs and ascetics— and offer an oath of allegiance to imperial Rome. While bravery, willingness to face public imprisoned, she wrote a diary of her experience and shame, conviction that their words recorded four visions. In the final vision, she took the are important. But we also discover form of a male wrestler who fought a fierce opponent important differences between and decisively defeated him. The symbolism was clear: today’s ideas and the ancient female Perpetua would face God’s archenemy, Satan, and, in martyrs’ views on the ultimate Christ, defeat him. After the vision, Perpetua said, “I goals of a life well lived. knew that the victory was awaiting me.” Her victory was to be a martyr’s bloody death. Blandina and Perpetua were not bold for their own BOLD TESTIMONY sake, out of a desire for self-affirmation, the promise The martyrdom accounts of women of fame, or a moment in the spotlight. Their boldness like Blandina, Perpetua, and Thecla was for Christ and for the sake of others. They sought reveal women who were extraordi- to encourage their brothers and sisters in Christ, many narily bold. They resisted familial of whom also faced hideous torture and death in a grue- pressure and governmental orders to turn from their Christian faith. They unflinchingly testified to Christ, knowing that intense phys- ical torture would be the outcome Do we speak about the dangers of wealth, of their truthful, fearless answer. the value of self-discipline, and the virtue Their actions and the suffering they endured magnified their voices. of singleness for Christ as all trumpeting In 177 in Lyons, Blandina, a slave the values of Christ’s kingdom? woman, was part of a small group of accused Christians, some of whom recanted their Christian faith—but not Blandina. She outlived all the others, undergoing numerous pub- some spectacle. Perpetua led a small band of prisoners lic tortures including scourging, and incipient martyrs by encouraging them through her a roasting chair, and being gored four visions that confirmed they would face the beasts by a bull. The early church histo- and would win an eternal crown. After she was wounded rian Eusebius wrote that as she was by a bull in the arena, Perpetua told her fellow prison- being tortured, ers, “Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings.” Blandina was filled with such Blandina, too, encouraged her fellow Christians. power as to be delivered and The narrator of Blandina’s martyrdom states that as raised above those who were she was raised up on a stake, Blandina appeared to be torturing her by turns from hanging on a cross. Her fellow martyrs looked at her morning till evening in every and saw Christ in his passion. Her example “inspired manner. They were aston- the combatants with great zeal,” reminding them “that ished at her endurance, as her everyone who suffers for the glory of Christ has fellow- entire body was mangled and ship always with the living God.” 12 CHRISTIANITYTODAY.COM/WOMEN Cohick P10.indd 12 7/24/18 8:33 AM.